Teacherswho work at special educational institutes and an investigation of the occupational satisfaction of classroom teachers

In this study, the levels of occupational satisfaction between class teachers and the teachers working at special education institutes have been investigated. A total of 265 teachers who work at 9 primary schools, 11 special educational schools and rehabilitation centers under Giresun Provincial Directorate of National Education have voluntarily participated in the survey. However, data of 254 teachers who have filled in the questionnaire as requested have been included in the study. The investigation consists of five sections. In the first section of the investigation are there the problem, sub-problems, aim and importance, limitations, assumptions, definitions and abbreviations beneath the title of Introduction. The theoretical sphere of occupational satisfaction and relevant researches are involved in the second section. The third section composes the method, the fourth section the findings and comments, and the fifth section the results and proposals. The population of the study consists of the teachers who work at the primary schools in the central district of Giresun, all the special educational schools and rehabilitation centers available under Giresun Provincial Directorate of National Education.A total of 254 teachers, including 120 female and 134 male ones, constitute the sample of the study. The mean age of the teachers who have taken part in the survey is 48. In the study the relationship between occupational satisfaction and sub-variables such as gender, marital status, alma mater, teachers' fields, ages and tenures has been investigated. General screening model has been used in the research. "Job Satisfaction Scale" developed by Kuzgun, Aydemir-Sevim and Hamamcı (1999), and "Personal Information Form" prepared by a researcher to determine the personal information of teachers have been utilized in order to collect the research data. Statistical methods such as "arithmetic mean, percentage, frequency, standard deviation, T-Test, One-Way Anova" have been employed to analyze the data. According to the results, no significant relationship has been discovered between the occupational satisfaction levels of the teachers working at special educational institutes and classroom teachers, and gender, marital status, alma mater, teachers' fields, ages and tenures. Various recommendations have been made in line with the results. Key Words: Professional Satisfaction, Classroom Teaching, Special Education.